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November 12, 2008
Happy Ether Day
Did everyone remember to celebrate Ether Day (Otober 16th)? It amazes me that I knew nothing of the annual celebration until a friend wished me a happy Ether Day. In response to my ignorant reply (actually a reply of ignorance- meaning I had never heard of it) he loaned me the book Ether Day, published in 2001. Ironically, there was a literatim in JAMA this week, highlighting the "Discovery" of Ether Anesthesia and its "Re-Discovery" by Hollywood (a movie by Sturges entitled The Great Moment).
It is indeed a strange tale, presented very thoroughly by Julie Fenster, a journalist/columnist. The approach is very similar to the books by John Barry that I have enjoyed so much. There are three (really four) men who claim credit for this discoveryof anesthesia. There is little question that it is the greatest discovery in the history of medicine. It made possible all types of surgery that were inconceivable prior to it.
Continue reading "Happy Ether Day"
Posted by Robert Maddox at 9:00 PM | Comments (0)